The High Court of Malawi has suspended proceedings in the Lilongwe City Mtandire-Mtsiriza Constituency election dispute between Alfred Gangata of the Democratic Progressive Party and George Zulu of the Malawi Congress Party. The suspension is pending the determination of an appeal by Gangata. Judge William Yakuwawa Msiska made the decision on Wednesday, following Gangata's application to stop proceedings related to the petition.
Gangata had applied to have Zulu's petition thrown out, but his application was earlier dismissed. He then appealed against the ruling, and the High Court has now stayed the proceedings until the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal determines his appeal. The decision was made to prevent potential prejudice to Gangata if the petition proceeded before the Supreme Court's decision.
According to Zulu's lawyer, Wanangwa Munkhondia, the judge found that Gangata could suffer prejudice if the petition proceeded before the Supreme Court's decision. Munkhondia stated that if the Supreme Court agrees with Gangata, the petition before Justice Msiska will stand dismissed. Conversely, if the Supreme Court disagrees with Gangata, the matter before Justice Msiska will proceed.
The election dispute relates to the September 16, 2025, General Election parliamentary race in Lilongwe City Mtandire-Mtsiriza Constituency. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared Gangata the winner with 12,369 votes, against 12,360 for Zulu, his closest challenger. MEC had dismissed Zulu's request for a recount.
Zulu subsequently challenged the declaration, arguing that the electoral commission had failed to address irregularities in the election. His petition was set to be heard by the High Court, but the proceedings have now been suspended pending the Supreme Court's decision on Gangata's appeal.
The suspension of the proceedings is a significant development in the election dispute. The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision on Gangata's appeal will determine the next steps in the matter. If the Supreme Court upholds Gangata's appeal, the petition before the High Court may be dismissed.
The Malawi Electoral Commission's declaration of Gangata as the winner was made on November 20, 2025, in compliance with a court order. The commission's decision was closely contested by Zulu, who claimed that there were irregularities in the election. The dispute has now been put on hold pending the Supreme Court's decision.
Key points
- The Malawi High Court has suspended proceedings in the election dispute between Alfred Gangata and George Zulu pending the determination of an appeal by Gangata.
- The suspension was made to prevent potential prejudice to Gangata if the petition proceeded before the Supreme Court's decision.
- The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision on Gangata's appeal will determine the next steps in the matter.
